Escapement mechanism for the carriage of a typewriter, permitting of obtaining at will a number of spacing distances



Sept. 6, 1960 G. GAGNEBIN 2,951,57

ESCAFEMENT MECHANISM FOR THE CARRIAGE OF A TYPEWRITER, PERMITTING OF OBTAINING AT WILL A NUMBER OF SPACING DISTANCES INVENTOR GUSTAVE GAGNEBIN ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1960 ESCAFEMENT MECHANISM FOR THE CARRIAGE OF A TYPEWRITEZR.

' OF OBTAINING AT WILL A NUMBER Filed April 15, 1958 G. GAGNEBIN PERMITTING OF SPACING DISTANCES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENTOR GUSTAVE GAGNEBJN ATTORNEY m 0N 6 E 5 9 1 E IF 1 A i ,C m. 6% A .L w w n S F 2,951,573 PERMITTING OF OBTAINING AT WILL A NUMBER OF SPACING DISTANCES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. GAGNEBIN CHANISM FOR THE! CARRIAGE OF A TYPEWRITER,

INQVENTOR GUSTAVE GAGNEBJN BY :2 a

ATTORNEY States ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM FOR THE CARRIAGE OF A TYPEWRITER, PERMITTING F OBTAIL\T- 218A? Cric'ls WILL A NUMBER OF SPACING DIS- Gustave Gagnebin, Yverdon, Palllard S.A., Sainte-Croix, poration of Switzerland Switzerland, assignor to Vaud, Switzerland, a cor- The mechanism controlling the movement of a type- Writer in such a manner as to obtain a regular spacing of the type characters, is called the escapement mechan sm. As is known the types used in a typewriter are of d fferent widths so that it is advantageous, in order to obtam harmonious typing, to provide an escapement mechamsm permitting of obtaining a variable spacing of the typed characters.

The subject of the present invention is an escapement mechanism for the carriage of a typewriter, permitting of obtaining at will a number of spacing distances. Said mechanism comprisesa shaft, an escapement wheel secured to said shaft, an escapement anchor carrying the escapement pawls and the pawls for retaining said wheel,

an escapement bridge actuated by type bars of the typewriter and adapted to control the said anchor, and a pinion adapted to come into engagement with the rack of the carriage. It is distinguished from known mechanisms by the fact that the said pinion is capable of turning freely on the said shaft and is secured in rotation to a second atent The bars 17 and 18 are carried by levers 19 and 20 respectively, hinged at 21 on a vertically movable support 100. Said bars each carry an arm 22, 23 respectively which connect them, through the medium of a rod 24, 25 respectively, to an arm of two-armed levers 26, 27 respectively, hinged at 28.

The second arm of the lever 26 is connected, through the medium of a pull rod 29, to a lever 30 pivoted at 31 on a plate 32 secured to a support 33 (see Fig. 4). The pivoting of the lever 30 is limited between two pins 34 and 35 secured to the plate 32. A spring 36 tends to maintain the lever 30 pressed against the pin 34. The lever 30 comprises a pin 37 engaging with a notch 38 of a rocker 39 mounted on a spindle 40 secured to the support 33.

escapement wheel of which the escapement and retaining pawls are carried by the said first wheel, in such a manner as to enable this to be coupled to the pinion, means being provided for controlling the. escapement pawls of the' first and of the second escapement wheel, said means being set in operation by selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard, in such a manner as to obtain an escapement producing a spacing which is a function of .each character controlled by the said keys.

One form of construction of the mechanism forming the'subject of the invention is shown diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the mechanism in the normal position, some parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 shows, to a larger scale, a portion of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are two front elevations showing two parts of the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 shows, to a larger scale, two positions of operation of some of the members of the mechanism.

Figs. 7 to 10 show some modifications of the key lever.

The escapement mechanism which is described hereinafter is controlled -by the typing mechanism. Said latter comprises for each type bar 1, provided with an upper character 1a and a lower character 1b, a key lever 2 and intermediate levers 3 and 4. The bar 1, the key lever 2 and the intermediate levers 3 and 4 are connected together by pull rods 5, 6 and 7 and are hinged respectively at 8, 9, 10 and 11. A spring 12, acting on the lever 4, tends to maintain the key lever 2 pressed against the stop 13. The key lever 2 owes its name to the fact that it carries a key 14. In proximity to its pivotal point 9, the key lever 2 has two projections 15 and 16, of difierent shape, adapted to co-operate with two transverse bars 17 and 18 respectively, forming part of the escapement mechanism.

A spring 41 tends to retain said rocker in the position shown in Fig. 1. The rocker 39 is capable of being moved axially on the spindle 40, in such a manner as to occupy two extreme positions, to the right and left, shown respectively in full and broken lines in Fig. 4. However, the spring 36 tends, through the medium of the lever 30, the pin 37 and the notch 38, to maintain the rocker in the position shown in full lines. Said rocker 39 has two arms 39a and 3912 (Fig. 4) of which the latter comprises, at its end, a stop 42 adapted to co-operate with an escapement bridge 43 (Fig. 1). Said bridge 43, guided by the support and a finger 44 secured thereto, is held in the position of rest, shown in Fig. 1, by a spring 45.

The second arm of the lever 27 in connected, by means of a pull rod 46, to an arm of double arm lever 47 (Fig. 3), hinged on a screw 48 and carrying, at the end of its other arm, a stop 49 adapted to retain an escapement pawl 50 co-operating with an escapement wheel 58. Near the end of its arm connected to the pull rod 46, the lever 47 has an elongated opening 59 in which engages a stop 60 adapted to limit its pivoting. A spring 112 tends to maintain the lever 47 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The pawl 50 is mounted, in the usual manner, on an escapement anchor 51 pivoted at 52 and is movable perpendicularly and parallel to the plane of the drawing (Fig. l). A spring 53 maintains it in the position shown in Fig. 1, causing it to follow the movements of the anchor 51, a second spring, not shown, tending to bear it against the stop 49 when it is disengaged from the wheel 58. A spring 54 opposes the pivoting of the anchor 51 in an anticlockwise movement (Fig. 1) the pivoting being limited by the contacting of the part 510 of the anchor against a stop 55. The anchor 51 comprises two arms 51a and 51b, of which the first carries a stop 56 adapted to co-operate with the arm 3% of the rocker 39, the second being provided with a tooth 57 adapted to serve as a retaining pawl for the escapement wheel 58.

The escapement wheel 58 is secured to a hollow shaft 61 capable of turning in a bearing 62 provided in a support 63 and provided with a ball bearing 62a. A pinion 64 adapted to co-operate with the rack of the carriage, not shown, is mounted loosely .on the shaft 61 in front of the wheel 58 (at the right, in Figs. 1 and 2) between a shoulder 61a of the shaft 61 and an elastic ring 99. A second escapement wheel 65 is rendered solid in rotation with'the pinion 64. The number of teeth of the wheel 58 and the number of teeth of the wheel 65 are in the ratio 3:2, in the example the wheels 58 and 65 comprise respectively 21 and 14 teeth. Consequently the movements of the carriage determined by the said wheels 58 and 65 respectively, are inversely proportional to the number of their teeth. They are therefore in the ratio of 2:3 and correspond respectively to 2 and 3 units of spacing, if this latter is defined as being halt the movement that the carriage carries out when the Wheel 58 turns through one tooth. As regards a the pinion 64, it may have any number of teeth; in the present case, the number is the same as that of the wheel 65. Escapement pawls 66 and retaining pawls 67 of the wheel 65 (see Fig. 3) are pivotally secured respectively at 68 and 69, to the wheel 58. The pawl 66 is provided with a tooth 66a and is subjected to the action of a -spring 70 which tends to maintain the tooth 66a engaged in the teeth of the wheel 65. The pawl 67 is also provided with a tooth 67a and is subjected to the action of a spring 71 which tends to maintain the tooth 67a spaced from the teeth of the wheel 65. The pawl 66 is extended rearwardly beyond its pivotal point 68 by a portion 66b adapted to co-operate with the front portion 67b of the pawl 67.

In the front portion of the hollow shaft 61 (at the right in Figs. 1 and 2), is mounted a piston 72 of which one end passes beyond the shaft 61' and is provided with a shoulder 72a. A spring 73, bearing against said latter 72a and the shaft 61, tends to maintain the piston 72 in the position shown in the drawing. Near its other end, the piston 72 has a notch 72b forming a ramp. A ball 74 is located in said notch 72b and is maintained therein by a pusher 75 sliding in a radial opening 76 provided in the shaft 61 and in the hub of the wheel 58. The pusher 75 is subjected to the action of the spring 71 through the medium of the pawl 67 (Fig. 3).

In the rear part of the shaft 61 (at the left in Figs. 1 and 2) is located a second piston 77 of which one end passes beyond the shaft 61 and is provided with a shoulder 77a. A spring 78 bears at opposite ends against said latter 77a and the shaft 61 for maintaining the piston 77 in the position shown in the drawing. Between the end of the piston 77, located in the interior of the shaft 6 1 and a pusher 79 capable of sliding in a radial opening provided in the shaft 61 and in the hub of the wheel 58, is placed a ball 80. The pusher 79 is constantly subjected to the action of the spring 70 (Fig. 3) through the medium of the pawl 66 and a part 81 secured to said latter and located on the opposite face of the wheel 58. The face of the pusher 79 which is in contact with the ball 80 forms an angle with the geometrical axis of the shaft 61.

A ratchet wheel 82 (Figs. 1 and is secured by means of two nuts 83 and 84 to the shaft 61, near to its rear end. The number of teeth of said wheel 82 is a submultiple of the number of teeth of the wheels 58 and 65; in the present case it is equal to 7.

The wheel 82 co-operates with a pawl 85 secured to one of the ends of a spindle 86 capable of turning in a support 87. A spring 101 tends to maintain the pawl 85 in engagement with the wheel 82. To the other end of the spindle 86 is secured an arm 88, connected, through the medium of a rod 89, to an arm of a bell-rank lever 90 pivoted at 91. Said same arm of the lever 90 is connected, by means of a rod 92, to a pawl 93 (Fig. 3) hinged at 94 to the end of a lever 95 hinged about a bearing 62. A spring 96 tends to maintain the lever 95 in the position shown in the drawing. The other arm of the lever 90 (Fig. 1) is connected, through the medium of .a pull rod 97 to the lever 26. Said latter comprises an elongated opening 98 in which the pull rod 97 is hinged. A second pull rod 102, hinged in an elongated opening 103 of the lever 90, connects said latter to an arm of a bell-crank lever 104. The other arm of the lever 104 is connected, through the medium of the pull rod'105, to a bar 106 secured to the rocker 39. A spring 113 tends to maintain the lever 104 in the position shown in the drawing. The lever 90 is also connected, through the medium of a rod 107, to the key lever for rearward movement, not shown in the drawing.

A curved lever 108 (-Fig. 1) located behind and opposite the piston 77, is hinged at 109. Said lever 108 comprises a beak 1-10 adapted to co-operate with the spring 53. A spring 111 tends to maintain the lever 108 in the position shown in the drawing.

The escapement mechanism described permits of obtaining three different sizes of spacing, corresponding respectively to two, three and four spacing units. The smallest spacing is obtained when the wheel 58 is released so as to turn through an angle equal to that comprised between two adjacent teeth, whilst the largest spacing is given for a rotation twice as large of the wheel 58. The average spacing, which equals three units, is obtained by the rotation of the wheel 65 through an angle equal to that corresponding to the passage from one tooth to the next. In the latter case, the wheel 58 remains stationary.

The magnitude of spacing is determined by the positions respectively occupied by the lever 47 (Fig. 3) and the rocker 39 (Fig. 4). When said two parts are placed in the positions shown in :full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, the smallest length of spacing is obtained, this being equal to two units. The control of the escapement mechanism is effected by the bridge 43 (Fig. 1) which is moved by the action of a boss 10 of the type bar 1 on its end 43a.

The type bar 1 is actuated, in the known manner, by a key 14 of which the lowering causes the key lever 2 to turn about 9. This movement is transmitted to the type bar 1 through the medium of pull rods 7, 6 and 5 and lovers 4 and 3, said latter turning right-handed, whilst the type bar effects a left handed rotation. When the type bar approaches its typing position, its boss 10 abuts against the end 43a of the bridge 43 and moves the latter against the action of the spring 45. The end 43b of the bridge 43 then applies a push to the stop 42, which is secured to the arm 3% of the rocker 39 (Fig. 4), which causes the latter to turn around its spindle 40. The arm 39b acts on the stop 56 of the anchor 51 and causes the latter to turn about 52, against the action of the spring 54, until the part 51c is stopped by the stop 55. The movement of the anchor 51 produces, in the known manner, the engagement of the retaining pawl 57 between the teeth of the wheel 58 and the disengagement of the escapement pawl 50. The latter is moved, by a spring, not shown, until it meets the stop 49 of the lever 47, so that it comes into position on the other side of the tooth of the wheel 58 which it retains.

After striking, the bar 1 returns to its position of rest by releasing the bridge 43, so that the movements above described take place in the opposite direction. The retaining pawl 57 releases the wheel 58, which can turn through an angle corresponding with the space of one tooth, under the action of the traction of the carriage,

whilst the escapement pawl 50 returns to the position shown in Fig. 3, which is determined by a stop, not shown. The rotation effected by the wheel 58 thus permits of moving through two spacing units.

When at the moment of typing, the lever 47 has been moved by the pull rod 46 in such a manner as to occupy the position shown in chain-dotted lines in Fig. 3, the operation above described is reproduced in an identical manner, with the exception that the escapement pawl 50 carries out a larger movement until it strikes the stop 49 of the lever 47. As a result, when the retaining pawl 57 releases the wheel 58, the latter effects a rotation corresponding to the spacing of two teeth until the pawl 50 is returned to the position shown. The carriage then moves an amount twice that obtained in the preceding case, which corresponds to four spacing units.

In order to obtain a movement of three spacing units, the bar rocker 39 should be in the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4. In this manner, its arm 3% can no longer meet the stop 56 of the anchor 51 and said latter therefore remains stationary during typing. In this position, the arm 39a of the rocker 39 is located opposite the piston 72 so that, when the bridge causes the rocker 39 to oscillate, said piston 72 is moved towards the interior of the shaft 61, against the action of the spring 73.

The movement of the piston 72 produces, by reason austere of the shape of the notch 72b, a movement of the ball 74 in the interior of the radial opening 76 and consequently a sliding of the pusher 75 towards the exterior thereof. The pusher 75 bears against the retaining pawl 67 and causes it to pivot in a right-hand direction (Fig. 3) about 69, against the action of the spring 71, which produces the engagement of the tooth 67a between the teeth of the wheel 65. At the same time, the front part 67b of the pawl 67, bearing against the rear part of 66b of the pawl 66, causes this to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction against the action of the spring 70, thus producing the disengagement of the tooth 66a from the teeth of the wheel 65.

After typing has been eifected the bar 1, returning to its position of rest, releases the bridge 43, which returns to the position shown in the drawing under the action of the spring 45. This produces the reverse movement of the pawls 66 and 67, enabling them to resume the position shown in the drawing. The Wheel 65 turns through one tooth, under the action of the pull effected by the rack of the carriage on the pinion 64. As the wheel 65 to three units of spacing.

The movement of the lever 47 (Fig. 3) is controlled through the medium of the pull rod 46, the lever 27, the rod 125, the arm 23 and the bar 18. The lever 47 is moved under the action of its spring 112 when the projection 16 of the key lever 2 acts on the bar 18.

The lateral movement of the rocker 39 is controlled by the projection 15 of the key lever 2, said projection acting on the rod 17 so as to provoke, through the medium of the arm 22, the rod 24 and the bell crank lever 26, an upward movement of the pull rod 29. Said latter causes the lever 30 to turn about 31 against the action of the spring 36 in order to move the rocker 39 laterally by .causing it to slide on the spindle 40. It will be seen that t the spacing is determined by the action of the projections 15 and 16 on the rods 17 and18 respectively. When neither of the projections 15 and 16 is active during the course of typing, the shortest spacing, which has a value of two units, is obtained. The action of the projection 15 ensures a spacing of three units and that of the projection 16 gives a spacing of four units.

Fig. 6 shows, to a larger scale, the end of the key lever 2 and shows that, when the support 100 occupies the position shown in full lines, the lowering of the lever 2 is accompanied by a movement of the bar 17 which is pushed by the projection 15. Said position of the support 100 permits of typing with the character 1b whilst obtaining a spacing of three units. When the support 100 is moved,

.by means not shown, into its lower position indicated by chain-dotted lines in Fig. 6, the bar 17 can no longer be 7 moved by the projection 15, whilst thebar 18 is located in the path of the projection 16. This position of the support 100 permits typing with the character 1a and spacing obtained has a value of four units.

Figs. 7 to 10 show various forms of construction of the key lever 2 enabling different spacing combinations to be obtained.

The key lever 2, shown in Fig. 7, is not provided with any projections 15 and 16 but shows that for two positions of the support 100, a minimum spacing of a value of two units is obtained.

The lever 2, shown in Fig. 8, comprises two projections 15 and 16 of modified shape, so as to obtain for the character 1a a spacing of three units and for the character 1b a spacing of four units.

The lever 2, shown in Fig. 9, has only one projection 15, so that for the character 1b, a spacing of three units is obtained and for the character 1a a spacing of two units.

The lever 2, shown in Fig. 10, also comprises a single projection 16, so that for the character 1b, the spacing obtained is two units and for the character 1a four units.

It will be understood that it is possible to provide other modifications of the key lever 2 permitting of ob-.

taining other combinations of spacing for the characters 'la and 1b.

For the rearward movement of the carriage, the operation of the mechanism is as follows:

The depression of the key for rearward movement, not shown, produces a movement to the left of the rod 107 (-Fig. 1) and, consequently a clockwise rotation of the lever 90.

The lever acts simultaneously on the rods 89 and 92, on the pull rod 97 and, with a predetermined delay, by reason of the elongated opening 103, on the pull rod 102. Through the medium of the rod 89 and the arm 88, it provokes the clockwise direction of the spindle 86 (Fig. 5 and, consequently, the disengagement of the pawl 85 from the wheel 82. Through the medium of the rod 92, it causes the pawl 93 (Fig. 3) to turn about 94, and engage the Wheel 58, in such a manner as to effect the rotation of the latter, through two teeth, in the direction of the rearward movement of the carriage and, consequently, a return of the latter through four spacing units, through the medium of the wheel 65 and of the pinion 64. Through the medium of the pull rod 97, the lever 26, the pull rod 29 and the lever 30, it produces the movement of the rocker 39 into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. Finally, through the medium of the pull rod 102, it produces a clockwise movement of the lever 104, against the action of the spring 113, which, through the medium of the pull rod and the bar 106, causes the rocker 39 (Fig. l) to pivot in an anticlockwise direction. The arm 39a of said rocker, by applying a thrust on the piston 72, produces a sequence of movements of the members 74, 75, 67 and. 66 which,

therefore a rearward movement of unit spacing.

The manual movement of the carriage is obtained in the following manner:

The lever 108 is acted upon by appropriate means, so as to cause it to pivot in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1), on its pivot 109, against the action of the spring 11 1. The lever 108, applying a push on the piston 77, moves this towards the interior of the shaft 61, against the action of the spring 78. The movement of the piston 77 produces, by reason of the ball 80 and the face 79a of the pusher 79, a sliding of said latter towards the outside. The pusher 79,'bearing against the part 81 secured to the pawl 66, causes the latter (Fig. 3) to pivot, against the action of the spring 70, in such a manner as to disengage the tooth 66a from the teeth of the wheel 65. On the other hand the projection 110 of the lever 108 produces through the medium of the spring 53, the disengagement of the pawl 50 from the teeth of the wheel 58. From this moment the carriage can be moved at will in both directions. It is important that at the end of each of these movements, the relative position of the wheels 58 and 65 will always be that allowing of a correct movement of the carriage. This is obtained by means of the wheel 82.

-In fact, said latter being secured for rotation with the Wheel 58 and comprising a number of teeth which is a sub-multiple of the number of teeth of the Wheels 58 and 65, the relative position of said latter allowing of a correct starting, is defined by the engagement'of the pawl 85 between two teeth of the wheel 82. Consequently, when at the commencement of the manual movement of the carriage, the pawl 85 is not between the teeth of the wheel 82 (the case shown in Fig. the rotation of the pinion 64 produces, by reason of the friction existing between said latter and the shaft 61, the rotation of this and, consequently, of the wheel 82 until the pawl 85 has engaged between two teeth of this. From this moment, the shaft 61 is stopped, only the pinion 64 and the Wheel 65 are driven by the carriage, as the Wheel 58 is mounted fixedly on the shaft 61.

The mechanism also functions in the manner above described when effecting a tabulation.

It will be understood that it is possible to apply numerous modifications to the mechanism illustrated and the largest spacing may, for example, be obtained by a simultaneous escapement of the two Wheels 58 and 65. In this case, the movable stop 49 may be replaced by a stop fixed in such a manner that the escapement of the wheel 58 always has the same value.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter having a frame and an escapement rack, means for automatically spacing type characters in relation to other type characters during the typing operation, comprising key levers having angularly offset portions pivotally supported on said frame, type bars also pivotally supported on the frame, link means spring biased to normal position and connecting said key levers and type bars, a vertically movable support, an escapement bridge mounted for horizontal sliding movement in said support, a spring for biasing said bridge to normal position, means on the type bars for actuating said bridge against the force of said spring, a first escapement assembly including a toothed wheel, a second escapement assembly including a toothed wheel, a tubular shaft rotatably and coaxially supporting the toothed wheels of both assemblies, a pinion fixed to the toothed wheel of the second assembly for feeding engagement with said rack, means controlled by the key levers for controlling both said first and second escapement assemblies, and other means responsive to the horizontal shifting of the escapement bridge to release the escapement wheel of the first escapement assembly.

2. A typewriter for automatically spacing type characters in relation to other type characters according to claim 1, wherein said other means includes an escapement pawl and a retaining pawl cooperating with the wheel of said first escapement assembly whereby inward movement of said escapement bridge disengages said escapement pawl from said wheel and engages said retaining pawl with said wheel after a pre-determined movement of the latter.

3. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a number of spacing widths, said escapement mechanism comprising a shaft, a first escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by typebars of said typewriter and adapted to control said anchor, a pinion adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinion being capable of turning freely on said shaft, a second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said pinion, and having a plurality of teeth, escapement and retaining pawls carried by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first wheel to the pinion through said second escapement Wheel, spring members engaging each of said last mentioned pawls to maintain them in a position of rest, said pawls cooperating one with the other in such a manner that an engagement of the retaining pawl produces a disengagement of the escapement pawl, means being provided for causing said retaining pawl to pivot against the action of its related spring, con- '8 trol means for said escapement pawls of said first'and second escapement wheels and selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said control means in operation in such a manner as to obtain'an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys.

4. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a number of spacing widths, said escapement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft, a first escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by typebars of said typewriter and adapted to control said anchor, a pinion adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinion being capable of turning freely on said shaft, a second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said piston, and having a plurality of teeth, escapement and retaining pawls carried by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first wheel to the pinion through said second escapement wheel, spring members engaging each of said last mentioned pawls to maintain them in a position of rest, said pawls cooperating one with the other in such a manner that an engagement of the retaining pawl produces a disengagement of the escapement pawl, means being provided for causing said retaining pawl to pivot against the action of its related spring, said means comprising a piston located in said shaft, a resilient member urging one of the ends of said piston beyond said shaft, a pusher cooperating with the other end of said piston, said piston capable of sliding in a radial opening of said shaft and bearing against said retaining pawl, whereby movement of said piston towards the interior of said shaft produces a pivoting of said retaining pawl so as to engage it between two teeth of said second wheel, control means for said escapement pawls of said first and second escapement wheels and selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said con trol means in operation in such a manner as to obtain an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys.

5. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a number of spacing Widths, said escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by typebars of said typewriter and adapted to control said anchor, a pinion adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinion being capable of turning freely on said shaft, a second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said pinion, and having a plurality of teeth, escapement and retaining pawls carried by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first wheel to the pinion through said second escapement wheel, spring members engaging each of said last mentioned pawls to maintain them in a position of rest, said pawls cooperating one with the other in such a manner that an engagement of the retaining pawl produces a disengagement of the escapement pawl, means being provided for causing said retaining pawl to pivot against the action of its related spring, said means comprising a piston located in said shaft, a resilient member urging one of the ends of said piston beyond said shaft, a pusher cooperating with the other end of said piston, said piston capable of sliding in a radial opening of said shaft and bearing against said retaining pawl, whereby movement of said piston towards the interior of said shaft produces a pivoting of said retainlng pawl so as to engage it between two teeth of said second Wheel, and control means for said escapement pawls of said first and second escapement wheels, selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said control means in operation in such a manner as to obtain an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys, said selection means comprising a rocking member interposed between said anchor and said piston, on-the one hand, and said escapement bridge on the other hand, said rocking member slidably supported transversely relative to the axis of said piston to occupy two different lateral positions, in such a manner as to permit said bridge to selectively actuate either said anchor for producing an advance of said carriage determined by the escapement of 'said first wheel, or of said piston so as to produce an advance of said carriage determined by the escapement of said second wheel.

6. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a number of spacing widths, said escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by typebars of said typewriter and adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinion being capable of turning freely on said shaft, a second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said pinion, and having a plurality of teeth, escapement and retaining pawls cartried by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first wheel to the pinion through said second escapement wheel, spring members engaging each of said last mentioned pawls to maintain them in a position of rest, said pawls cooperating one with the other in such a manner that an engagement of the retaining pawl produces a disengagement of the escapement pawl, means being provided for causing said retaining pawl to pivot against the action of its related spring, said means comprising a piston located in said shaft, a resilient member urging one of the ends of said piston beyond said shaft, a pusher cooperating with the other end of said piston, said piston capable of sliding in a radial opening of said shaft and bearing against said retaining pawl, whereby movement of said piston towards the interior of said shaft produces a pivoting of said retaining pawl so as to engage it between two teeth of said second wheel, control means for said escapement pawls of said first and second escapement wheels, selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said control means in operation in such a manner as to obtain an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys, said selection means comprising a rocking member interposed between said anchor and said piston, on the one hand, and said escapement bridge on the other hand, said rocking member slidably supported transversely relative to the axis of said piston to occupy two different lateral positions, in such a manner as to permit said bridge to selectively actuate either said anchor for producing an advance of said carriage determined by the escapement of said first wheel, or of said piston so as to produce an advance of said carriage determined by the escapement of said second wheel, and a spring maintaining said rocking member in one of said two different lateral positions, the other position being obtained by the action of a key lever on related mechanism permitting the lateral displacement of said rocking member against the action of said spring.

7. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a number of spacing widths, said escapement mechanism comprising a shaft, a first escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by type bars of said ty ewriter and adapted to control said anchor, a pinion adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinion being capable of turning freely on said shaft, a second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said pinion and having a plurality of teeth, the number of teeth of the first and second escapement wheels being in the ratio of 3:2, escapement and retaining pawls carried by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first wheel to the pinion through said second escapement wheel, control means for said escapement pawls of said first and second escapement wheels and selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said control means in operation in such a manner as to obtain an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys.

8. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a number of spacing widths, said escapement mechanism comprising a shaft, a first escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by type bars of said typewriter and adapted to control said anchor, a pinion adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinionbeing capable of turning freely on said shaft, a second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said pinion and having a plurality of teeth, escapement and retaining pawls canied by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first wheel to the pinion through said second escapement wheel, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a ratchet-engaging pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a spring acting on said pawl and tending to maintain it in engagement with said ratchet wheel, the engagement between said pawl and said ratchet wheel opposing rotation of said shaft in the direction corresponding to the rearward movement of said carriage, the number of teeth of said ratchet wheel being a submultiple of the number of teeth of the first and second escapement wheels, the relative position on said shaft of said first and second escapement wheels being selected in such a manner that, each time said pawl is engaged between two teeth of said ratchet wheel, the relative position of said first and second escapement wheels to said ratchet wheel is that position necessary for a correct starting of said carriage, control means for said escapement pawls of said first and second escapement wheels and selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said control means in operation in such a manner as to obtain an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8 wherein a lever is connected to said ratchet-engaging pawl, said lever actuated by the key for rearward movement of the ma-- ment produces successively, the disengagement of said ratchet-engaging pawl from said ratchet wheel for releasing said shaft, the rotation of said first escapement wheel by a value corresponding with two teeth, and the movement of said carriage rearwardly through a corresponding distance, the movement of said rocking member into lateral position enabling it to cooperate with said piston, the pivoting of said member and the movement of said piston in the interior of said shaft, the release of said key causing the escape of said second wheel and the corresponding advance of said carriage, the effective movement of said carriage, produced by the setting in action of' said key for rearward movement, being thus equal to the difference of said two successive movements.

10. In a typewriter including a frame, a carriage, a rack, type bars and key levers, an escapement mechanism for said carriage for automatically obtaining a '11 number of' spacing widths, said escapement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft, a first escapement wheel secured to said shaft and having a plurality of teeth, an escapement anchor carrying escapement and retaining pawls for said wheel, an escapement bridge actuated by typebars of said typewriter and adapted to control said anchor, a pinion adapted to come into engagement with said rack of said carriage, said pinion being capable of turning freely on said shaft, 9. second escapement wheel secured in rotation with said pinion, and having a plurality of teeth, escapement and retaining pawls carried by said first wheel to allow coupling of said first Wheel to the pinion through said second escapement wheel, spring members engaging each of said last mentioned pawls to maintain them in a position of rest, said pawls cooperating one with the other in such a manner that an engagement of the retaining pawl produces a disengagement of the escapement pawl, means being provided for causing said retaining pawl to pivot against the action of its related spring, said means comprising a piston located in said shaft, a resilient member urging one of the ends of said piston beyond said shaft, a pusher cooperating with the other end of said piston, said piston capable of sliding in a radial opening of said shaft and bearing against said retaining pawl, whereby movement of said piston towards the interior of said shaft produces a pivoting of said retaining pawl so as to engage it between two teeth of said second wheel, means permitting disengagement ofsaid escapement pawl from said second escapement wheel without causing engagement of said retaining pawl, control means for said escapement pawls ofsa'id first and second escapement wheels and selection means controlled by each of the keys of the keyboard for setting said control means in operation in such a manner as to obtain an escapement giving a spacing which is a function of each character controlled by said keys.

all. A mechanism according to claim 10 wherein the means permitting disengagement of said escapement pawl from said second escapement wheel without causing engagement of said retaining pawl comprises a second piston located in said hollow shaft at the opposite end from said first piston, a resilient member urging one of the ends ofsaid second piston beyond said shaft, and a pusher cooperating with the other end of said second piston, said pusher capable of sliding in a radial opening in said shaft and bearing against said escapement pawl, said means being actuated in such a manner that a movement of said piston towards the interior of said shaft produces a pivoting of said escapement pawl so as to cause it to disengage the said second escapement wheel.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

